Alcohol

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Portman Group in its role as monitor of the alcohol industry’s progress to a voluntary labelling pledge under the Responsibility Deal about the fifth edition of its Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks, which does not require labels on alcoholic drinks to display their calorie or sugar content; and whether they intend to ask the Portman Group to persuade its members to display such information on their labels.

Earl Howe: Progress on delivery of the alcohol industry's commitment to “ensure that over 80% of products on shelf (by December 2013) will have labels with clear unit content, National Health Service guidelines and a warning about drinking when pregnant” is subject to independent monitoring. This commitment does not require the displaying of calorie information or sugar content on the labels.
	The Portman Group published its “Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks (Fifth Edition)” in May 2013. It provides a procedural framework for influencing, regulating and controlling industry practice and seeks to ensure that alcohol is promoted in a socially responsible manner and only to those aged over 18. This is not an element of the labelling pledge.
	The Portman Group Guidance Note on the Remit of Fifth Edition of Portman Group Code (November 2012) says that purely factual statements concerning calorie content will be acceptable in the marketing of alcoholic drinks.
	Calorie labelling of alcoholic drinks is regulated by the European Union. The United Kingdom Government is in favour of mandatory energy declarations and will press for the inclusion of information that consumers need to make informed choices about what and how much they drink. The Government is awaiting a European Commission report on nutrition labelling and ingredient listing on alcoholic drinks, which we expect later this year.
	Meanwhile, 49 businesses have signed up to the voluntary Responsibility Deal pledge on awareness of alcohol units, calories and other information in the off-trade (supermarkets and off-licenses). Information on calories of alcoholic drinks is also available to consumers through the Change4Life and Drinkaware alcohol apps and websites, and most retailers' websites.
	We will continue to consider what more can be done through the Responsibility Deal to improve public health, including through consumer information.

Aviation: Security

Lord Vinson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to reconsider the rule requiring incoming aircraft travelling to two destinations to disembark all passengers at the first stop for a full security check, before those ongoing are allowed to re-embark to their original seats, where passengers travelling to a second destination are subsequently security-checked at that final destination; and what assessment they have made of delays caused by that rule and of any inconvenience caused to disabled persons.

Baroness Kramer: There are no plans to change the current requirement for all transit passengers and cabin baggage arriving into the UK from international destinations to disembark from aircraft and be screened at the UK transit airport. However, the Department for Transport keeps all security measures under review to ensure they are proportionate, considering both the risks we are managing and the costs and inconvenience for passengers.

BBC World Service

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, before handing over to the BBC control of decisions involving future BBC World Service transmissions, they undertook any research into the benefit of broadcasting to all 75 million people on the Korean peninsula and the Korean-speaking Chinese province of Jilin; what is their response to internal research by the BBC that “The more business leaders know and consume the BBC, the more likely they are to trade with the UK”; and whether they will ask the BBC to evaluate the additional trade the United Kingdom would gain from a new service.

Baroness Warsi: There has been and will be no change to the decision making process on BBC World Service language services as a result of the 1 April 2014 transfer to Licence Fee funding. As I said in my 12 March answer (Official Report, 12 March 2014, column 1753), the BBC World Service is editorially, managerially and operationally independent. It is therefore for the World Service, not for the Government, to look into possible benefits of broadcasting to any particular region or in any particular language, and to make proposals on that basis.
	When, on 1 April, the World Service moves to Licence Fee funding, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), will continue to approve the opening and closing of the World
	Service’s language services, as he does at present, based on recommendations put to him by the World Service.
	The BBC World Service reviewed options for establishment of a Korean language service in late 2013, concluding, as a result of questions of likely audience reach, cost and technical feasibility, that establishment of a Korean language service was not appropriate at this stage.

BBC World Service

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by the Deputy Prime Minister on 12 March (HC Deb, cols 315–6) concerning proposals to initiate BBC World Service transmissions to the Korean peninsula, and his remark that “I understand that at the end of last year it (the BBC) decided, following a review, that it could not continue to offer an effective and affordable Korean language service”, what Korean language service had previously been offered to the Korean people; for how long it had made such transmissions; what it cost; and what savings were made following the review.

Baroness Warsi: I would like to clarify the answer given by the Deputy Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield Hallam (Mr Clegg) (HC Deb, cols 315–6) concerning proposals to initiate BBC World Service transmissions to the Korean peninsula and his remarks on a review of that. The Review carried out in 2013 was into the viability of a BBC World Service Korean language service. There has not previously been a Korean language service offered by the BBC World Service, so the question of savings from its discontinuation has never arisen.

Caste Discrimination

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date the Government Equalities Office wrote to all government departments seeking their approval to launch the consultation on the introduction of caste legislation.

Baroness Northover: Government does not disclose information relating to internal discussions in order to preserve “collective responsibility”.

Defence Infrastructure Organisation

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what cash savings, over the next 10 years, they have calculated will be achieved by the use of Capita as a strategic business partner for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many companies bid for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation strategic business partner contracts; and what were their names.

Lord Astor of Hever: Following a pre-qualification exercise, three companies were invited to bid for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation strategic business partner contract. The bidders were Capita with URS and PA Consulting as sub-contractors, Serco with DTZ and Bechtel as sub-contractors, and a Telereal Trillium and Mace consortium utilising KPMG as a sub-contractor.
	It is estimated that, through the appointment of a partner, enhanced cost savings will rise to over £300 million per annum during the 10-year contract.

Drones

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what areas they operate drones; and for what use.

Baroness Kramer: The Ministry of Defence operates Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) globally for operational surveillance, precision attack and for training purposes. Reaper RPAS is the only armed system. It operates only in Afghanistan, and professional, qualified pilots follow the exact same Rules of Engagement as pilots of other aircraft types.
	Whilst the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not used any RPAS, its Centre for Environment Fisheries & Aquaculture Science, Food & Environment Research Agency, Environment Agency, Natural England and Royal Botanic Gardens have used small RPAS to support work on flood defence and coastal erosion, and the monitoring of crops, plants and nature reserves. All flights were carried out within the UK except for an aerial plant survey in Peru carried out by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
	The Home Office does not itself operate RPAS and the only police force operationally using a system (albeit very occasionally) is Staffordshire. This system is mostly used for patrol sweeps of car park and camping areas at V Festival, security sweeps for VIP events at the National Arboretum, they have also carried out some missing person, search and rescue, and counter-poaching tasks.
	Sussex Police have completed formal training and are now in the process of gathering experience with their own RPAS system – although if an important operational task came up RPAS would be deployed. The formal start date for the trial is in the near future.
	Kent Police, as part of the 2 Seas project, have hosted some RPAS trial flights to assess the performance of the system. They are planning to host an event about the project in July.

Education: Adult Education

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision they make for continuing education throughout adult life.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We want adult learners to have a range of flexible learning options that enable them to progress and achieve their ambitions. Apprenticeships are at the heart of the Government’s drive for better vocational skills, and are for people of all ages to enable them to progress to higher level skills and professional qualifications. The Skills Funding Statement 2013-16 sets out the Government wider priorities for the adult skills system, including full funding for level 2 English and maths and Advanced Learning Loans for learners aged 24 and over studying at levels 3 and 4. The National Careers Service encourages individuals to undertake lifelong learning, and lifelong learning accounts prompt them to the next step in their learning journey.
	The Government also funds community learning which is an important part of the overall learning and skills offer. Provision is designed to help adults of different ages and backgrounds acquire a new skill, re-connect with learning, pursue an interest, prepare for progression to formal courses and learn how to support their children more confidently. Learning is delivered in a range of community venues and can attract and engage people who are furthest from learning.
	The Skills Funding Statement 2013-16 can be accessed at www.gov.uk by searching for “Skills Funding Statement”. Skills are a devolved policy matter and the Statement applies only to England.

Education: Numeracy

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that adults have sufficient numeracy skills to enable them to enter the workplace.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: This Government is committed to ensuring that adults get the maths and numeracy skills which they need to build successful careers and support their families, We have put maths (and English) at the heart of our reforms to further education and we continue to fully fund maths courses up to and including GCSE, to help adults achieve their first Level 2 qualification. We are improving the quality of the maths teaching workforce, rewarding the best providers and ensuring learners are stretched to achieve the best they can.
	We have embedded maths into our major work focused programmes, in recognition of its importance for securing work and progressing in work. From the 2014/15 academic year all intermediate apprentices who have already achieved Level 1 will be required to
	work towards achieving a Level 2 in maths as well as English. The traineeship programme for unemployed 16-24 year olds combines work preparation and a job placement with a course of study in maths (and English).
	In recognition of the fact that many unemployed adults lack maths skills, from the Autumn we will be piloting a requirement that from day 1 of a claim, 18-21 year old claimants of Jobseekers Allowance with maths skills below Level 2 improve these skills through a course of blended, online and face-to-face support alongside looking for a job.
	We are also improving the quality of the Further Education maths workforce. As part of a £15m scheme during 2013-15 we are offering bursaries of up to £20,000 to help attract the best and brightest maths graduates to teach in Further Education. We support a maths enhancement programme which will train up to 2,000 existing maths teachers to enhance their knowledge and skills to teach this subject. In January 2014 we announced further measures including a “golden hello” scheme offering a bonus of £7,500 to maths graduates in their second year of teaching; a recruitment incentive scheme offering £20,000 to providers for taking on a specialist maths graduate teacher and a subject knowledge enhancement scheme to enable highly qualified graduates who have the skills and aptitude to teach but need to develop some specific maths skills before they start teacher training.

Electoral Registration

Lord Wills: To ask Her Majesty’s Government , further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 10 February (WA 95), whether, in calculating the Local Government Finance Settlement, they have made any assumptions of the likely expenditure on electoral registration.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: Funding for electoral registration is included within the local government finance settlement, and it is for the Local Authority to manage the non-ring fenced funding it provides to deliver statutory obligations, including electoral registration.
	The Government is funding the net additional costs to local authorities of the transition to Individual Electoral Registration in financial years 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 via grants to local authorities in England and Wales and on invoice for the Valuation Joint Boards in Scotland.

Employment: Websites

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the advertising on the Universal Jobmatch website of writer vacancies by the student essay writing service All Answers Limited complies with the website’s terms and conditions for employers.

Lord Freud: No. As part of the current review of the Universal Jobmatch Terms and Conditions this company’s account has been suspended and associated vacancies have been removed.

Flooding

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what new flood protection and alleviation measures will be completed on the Somerset Levels by 31 December 2014.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what new flood protection and alleviation schemes will be started and completed within 2015 on the Somerset Levels.

Lord De Mauley: The long term action plan for the sustainable future of the Somerset Levels and Moors was published on 6 March.
	The plan was developed by Somerset local authorities and other local partners and is supported by the Government and its agencies. It is wide ranging and includes actions covering specific flood risk management projects, farming and land management interventions, transport infrastructure, planning and community resilience issues. Together, these actions will help to ensure better protection against floods for homes and businesses in Somerset in the future.
	The plan, which sets out details of specific actions and timescales for completion, can be found at:
	http://somersetnewsroom.com/flood-action-plan/

Genetic Modification

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Freud on 5 November 2013 (WA 31–2) and by Earl Howe on 4 March (WA 304) and 12 March (HL5651), whether their working definition of genetic modification in humans applies only in the context of the draft Mitochondrial Donation Regulations or whether it will be enshrined in ensuing legislation to provide similar clarity to that found in the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000; how that working definition is being kept under review; and what objective criteria would prompt further revision of the working definition.

Earl Howe: As I advised the noble Lord in my Written Answer of 4 March 2014 (Official Report, column WA 304), the working definition of genetic modification in humans, set out in that answer, was adopted solely for the purpose of taking forward the draft mitochondrial donation regulations. As the
	draft regulations do not provide for the alteration of nuclear DNA, they do not need to refer to the working definition.
	It is within the context of the draft mitochondrial donation regulations that the working definition will be kept under review. The Government will carefully consider the advice and information it receives during the consultation period but it is not possible to speculate on the circumstances that might lead to a revision of the working definition.

Gibraltar

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what enhancements have been made in Gibraltar's maritime security since April 2013.

Lord Astor of Hever: I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave on 29 January 2014 (Official Report, column WA234).

Government Departments: Staff

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff are currently employed for more than 50 per cent of their working week to support the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice in her role as Accounting Officer; and what are their job titles.

Lord Faulks: Managing Public Money, HM Treasury's handbook on how to handle public funds, describes the role and responsibilities of the Accounting Officer. The Department routinely covers Accounting Officer issues when providing advice to Officials and Ministers. No individual spends 50% or more of their time supporting the Permanent Secretary on such issues.

Government Departments: Surveys

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what customer, user and satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Department for Communities and Local Government and the agencies that report to it; which of them have been reported to the management board in the last 12 months; and which were commissioned by the management board.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston: In the last 12 months we have undertaken qualitative research into the experience of tenants who might wish to exercise their Right to Buy
	to assist the take-up of Right to Buy; this is not something that relates to the work of the management board.
	We have reduced significantly our spend on surveys as part of our wider efficiency measures. For example, this Government abolished a £5 million Place Survey commissioned by the previous Administration because we do not consider such expenditure of any use to local people. Instead, we take the view that elections and the ballot box are the best form of user survey.

Government Departments: Surveys

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what customer, user and satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the agencies that report to it; which of them have been reported to the management board in the last 12 months; and which were commissioned by the management board.

Lord De Mauley: Core Defra has not conducted any external customer, user or satisfaction surveys over the last 12 months but its executive agencies have as listed below:
	Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
	RPA commissioned an independent customer satisfaction survey to help assess performance against its customer commitments. Headline trends are reported quarterly to core Defra’s Supervisory Board.
	Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefra)
	Cefas carried out an annual customer feedback survey which evaluates key performance indicators. This is reported to the Cefas Management Board.
	Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA)
	AHVLA Board commissioned and received reports from two surveys; a customer satisfaction survey amongst private veterinary surgeons and an export certification service satisfaction survey.
	The AHVLA Executive Committee commissioned and will receive a report on a Customer Satisfaction Survey of livestock keepers.
	Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA)
	The FERA executive team commissioned and received reports for the following surveys:
	- Key account customer satisfaction survey;- Plants rights varieties and seeds survey;- Plant health and seeds inspectorate survey; and- National bee unit survey.
	Other surveys containing an element of customer satisfaction that were reported to but not commissioned by the FERA executive team are:
	- Proficiency testing group survey;- Customer service group survey;- Knowledge solutions survey; and- Centre for chemical stewardship and safety survey.
	Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)
	The VMD conducted carried out its annual survey of those to whom it provides policy advice and services, this survey complements the assessment of service level agreements set between VMD and core Defra. VMD also carried out an online industry customer satisfaction survey. Both of these surveys were reported to the VMD Management Board.

Health: Dentistry

Lord Lea of Crondall: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 19 March (HL 5833), what further progress they have made on the recommendations of the Government Response to the Office of Fair Trading Market Study into Dentistry, and in particular point 5 in the Conclusions of that document, regarding the new dental contracts and the role of private practice.

Earl Howe: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) study recommended a number of actions for the Government. These included improving patient communications and easing entry to the dental market.
	The actions taken to improve communications with patients were set out in the Government response published in August 2012. The OFT report recommended that the actions on easing market entry should be considered as part of the work to reform the dental contract. Paragraph five of the conclusions of the Government response specifically addressed the recommendation that the Government should consider, as part of its work to reform the existing dental contractual arrangements, the introduction of the system of any qualified provider (AQP) in primary care dentistry.
	The Government is committed to considering AQP in designing a new contractual system. The reform programme is currently piloting key elements needed to design a new contractual system. During the design stage this will be fully considered.
	The OFT recommendation on AQP does not cover private practice. There are no plans to change the existing arrangements for private practice. Most National Health Service primary care dentistry is provided by independent contractors. A contractor providing NHS services under AQP would, as under the current system, be free to provide private care alongside their NHS provision.

Housing: New Homes Bonus

Lord Whitty: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are yet in a position to evaluate the success of the New Homes Bonus Scheme.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston: I can confirm that the department is currently undertaking an interim evaluation of the New Homes Bonus.

Human Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take in the light of the judgments of the Supreme Court in the case of Stott v Thomas Cook Tour Operators Ltd [2014] UKSC 15 to ensure that airline passengers have redress for violations of their fundamental human rights.

Baroness Kramer: The Department for Transport is currently considering the decision of the Supreme Court Judgment on the Stott v Thomas Cook case and any actions that may be necessary as a result.

International Criminal Court

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the ability of Palestinians to access the International Criminal Court; and whether they will support increasing such access.

Baroness Warsi: The UK is a strong supporter of international justice and the International Criminal Court (ICC). We are committed to seeing international law respected everywhere, including in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).

Israel

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning a shoot-to-kill policy towards civilians and suspected militants.

Baroness Warsi: It is not our assessment that Israel has a policy of shooting to kill.

Israel

The Lord Bishop of Truro: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact the recent approval of building permits for 558 new units in East Jerusalem, in Har Homa, Neve Yaakov and Pisgat Zeev on (1) the prospects of Jerusalem becoming
	the capital of two states, and (2) the territorial contiguity between East Jerusalem and the southern West Bank.

Baroness Warsi: The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), raised the issue of settlements during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories between 13-14 March. Our Ambassador to Tel Aviv has reinforced our concerns over plans to expand Israeli settlements in and around East Jerusalem repeatedly at the highest levels.
	These plans, if implemented, would undermine the territorial contiguity between East Jerusalem and the West Bank and a two state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital.

Nigeria

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking with regard to militant activity in north-east Nigeria aimed at school children.

Baroness Warsi: The UK provides support to the Nigerian government in a variety of areas. These include advice on Counter Terrorism strategy and legal frameworks, as well as on the management of the consequences of an attack.
	The Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds), met President Jonathan on 27 February. They discussed the security situation in the north east of Nigeria, including the attacks on civilians and students that have taken place over recent months. Mr Simmonds reaffirmed our commitment to assist Nigeria in its fight against terrorism and stressed the importance of Nigerian forces respecting human rights during their operations.

Non-departmental Government Bodies: Staff

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees were recruited by the National Measurement Office in 2013; and, of that number, how many were graduates.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: In the Calender year 2013, National Measurement Office (NMO) recruited 18 staff, 15 of which are permanent employees and 3 on fixed term contracts. Of the 18 employees recruited, 14 are graduates.

Non-departmental Government Bodies: Staff

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees were recruited by Ordnance Survey in 2013; and, of that number, how many were graduates.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Ordnance Survey recruited 141 new entrants in the calendar year 2013. Of this number, 78 were educated to degree level.

Non-departmental Government Bodies: Staff

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees were recruited by the Science & Technology Facilities Council in 2013; and, of that number, how many were graduates.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: From 1 January 2013- 31 December 2013, the Science and Technology Facilities Council recruited 150 employees, of whom 125 are graduates.

Non-departmental Government Bodies: Staff

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees were recruited by the Technology Strategy Board in 2013; and, of that number, how many were graduates.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Technology Strategy Board recruited 54 employees in 2013, of which 23 were graduates.

Non-departmental Government Bodies: Staff

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees were recruited by the United Kingdom Space Agency in 2013; and, of that number, how many were graduates.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: There were 11 employees recruited by the UK space Agency in 2013, of that number 8 were graduates.

Non-departmental Government Bodies: Staff

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees were recruited by the United Kingdom Commission for Employment and Skills in 2013; and, of that number, how many were graduates.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: In 2013 the UK Commission for Employment and Skills recruited 28 members of staff and of the 28, 21 were graduates.

Offender Learning and Skills Service

Lord Hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to evaluate the new Offender Learning and Skills Service; and how they will monitor both its progress and performance.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) provides funding to the Skills Funding Agency to administer and deliver the Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS).
	BIS has commissioned Ispos MORI, London Economics and Sheffield Hallam University to undertake a study to explore the feasibility of assessing the impacts of the changes under OLASS 4 and other recent changes to offender learning. We will decide how best to proceed once that study reports later in the spring.
	OLASS 4 is monitored and reviewed locally through quarterly Governance Board meetings based around the Unit of Procurement. Members of these Boards include; Deputy Directors of Custody, prison cluster representatives, the Skills Funding Agency and the OLASS and National Careers Service (NCS) provider. These Boards are responsible for reviewing and assessing the impact of Skills Funding Agency-funded provision through OLASS 4 and local NCS contracted delivery. The Reviews and assessments are informed by a locally agreed suite of performance reports including an OLASS Key Performance Indicator tool (KPI tool) for each prison within the Unit of Procurement. The KPI tool identifies current performance levels against baseline information and provides improvement targets. The KPI tool enables the monitoring of progress on OLASS and NCS delivery throughout the year and identifies any areas for improvement and actions required. The results of Ofsted's inspections of prison education arrangements will continue to provide a critical contribution to Governance Board discussions of OLASS and NCS performance.
	National performance of OLASS 4 is monitored and reviewed by a Board which includes BIS, the National Offender Management Service, the Department for Work and Pensions, NCS and the Skills Funding Agency.

Overseas Aid

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether United Kingdom aid has funded projects to combat climate change in South America, including a scheme to improve animal diets by cultivating trees and plants in such a way to reduce the amount of methane escaping through belching and flatulence; and, if so, how much was spent and what was the result of that project.

Baroness Verma: The Government supports a number of projects which combat climate change in South America. These include support for a project to encourage the uptake of Silvopastoral Systems (SPS) by Colombian farmers. By introducing SPS, the project is protecting forests, improving the livelihood of farmers, increasing biodiversity and reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions through improved land management. It does this through SPS
	techniques which improve the grazing land by the planting of trees, shrubs and fodder crops, installing living fences and conserving existing forest.
	Participating small farmers, the majority of whom are living in conditions of rural poverty, are also able to raise more, healthier cattle on their existing land, increasing their income and reducing the need to clear forest. The resulting change in diet for the cattle that live on the farms may affect emissions from the cattle but this is not an objective of the project.

Parliaments: Salaries and Expenses

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average annual salary and expenses paid to (1) members of the House of Commons, and (2) members of the European Parliament.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The determination and administration of the pay, pensions and expenses for Members of Parliament is the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). The current salary of a Member of Parliament is £66,396. IPSA publish the salary and total business costs and expenses paid to each MP.
	Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) paid by the European Parliament under the Statute for Members of the European Parliament are paid at 38.5%of the basic salary of a judge at the Court of Justice of the European Communities, which is currently € 7.956,87 a month before EU tax and accident insurance contribution. Those British MEPs who are not paid under the Statute for Members of the European Parliament are paid at the same rate as MPs.

RAF Scampton

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which Royal Air Force flying squadrons are based at RAF Scampton.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many aircraft are based at RAF Scampton.

Lord Astor of Hever: There are no RAF squadrons based at RAF Scampton. However, the RAF Aerobatic Team (RAFAT) is based there. At present, RAFAT have 13 Hawk T1 aircraft based at RAF Scampton.

RAF Scampton

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been spent on infrastructure, in particular runways and taxiways, at RAF Scampton in the last 24 months.

Lord Astor of Hever: The total spend on infrastructure at RAF Scampton in the last 24 months was £15.8 million. Of this amount, the spend on runways and taxiways was £9.3 million.

Railways: First Great Western

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the additional capacity being provided on branch lines in Devon and Cornwall, negotiated in First Great Western’s franchise extension, requires any local funding.

Baroness Kramer: The Great Western franchise agreement announced on 3 October 2013 is a new direct award agreement, not an extension to the old First Great Western franchise agreement. No additional capacity on branch lines in Devon and Cornwall was negotiated as part of that franchise agreement. The franchise agreement contains a priced option for the operation of additional locally-funded train services on the Newton Abbot to Paignton line in Devon. Additional locally-funded train services were introduced on this route on 9 December 2013.

Royal Air Force: Airfields

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Royal Air Force airfields there are in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland.

Lord Astor of Hever: There are 12 RAF operational airfields in England, three in Scotland, two in Wales and none in Northern Ireland. (The former RAF Aldergrove is no longer under RAF control, as it now falls under Joint Helicopter Command).
	The RAF also has a number of non-operational airfields used by University Air Squadrons, Air Experience Flights and Volunteer Gliding Schools.

Somalia

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of freedom of religion and belief in Somalia.

Baroness Warsi: The vast majority of people in Somalia are Muslim (around 99.8%) and Islam is recognised as the official state religion in
	Somalia’s provisional constitution. The majority of reports of restriction of religious freedom relate to human rights abuses by Al Shabaab.

Sri Lanka

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings on Sri Lanka in the Rule of Law Index 2014 compiled by the World Justice Project, in particular in respect of the ranking of Sri Lanka in comparison to its neighbouring countries; and whether they intend to take any action on the basis of those findings in the context of the draft resolution tabled at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Baroness Warsi: We are aware of The Rule of Law Index 2014, which we are studying alongside other qualitative and quantitative evidence. The Index ranks Sri Lanka 56th out of 99 countries for fundamental rights. Areas of concern mentioned in the Index are delays and barriers to access civil justice, ineffective criminal investigations, due process violations, and lack of accessibility of official information. Some of these matters are highlighted in the UN High Commissioner’s 24 February report on Sri Lanka, which is helping to inform the next Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka. For example, interference in the independence of the judiciary, a significant surge in attacks on religious minorities and the continuation of impunity for those committing serious human rights abuses. The resolution tabled seeks to encourage the Sri Lankan government to make progress on these matters.

Taxation

Lord Barnett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of the amount saved per annum by those paying income tax at (1) the higher rate, and (2) the standard rate, as a result of increasing the personal allowance to £10,500; and what is the estimated cost to the Exchequer in each case.

Lord Deighton: Increasing the Personal Allowance to £10,500 in the year 2015-16 is estimated to reduce the income tax liabilities of 25 million taxpayers, basic rate taxpayers by £1.3 billion and higher rate taxpayers by £0.3 billion. Increases in the personal allowance since this term of Government began will have lifted over 3 million of the lowest paid out of income tax altogether.
	With the higher rate threshold rising by one per cent, basic rate and most higher rate taxpayers will benefit equally from the personal allowance increase.
	As a result the average gain per taxpayer is £61 while typical higher-rate taxpayers benefit on incomes all the way up to £100,000.
	These estimates are based on the 2011-12 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2015-16 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2014 economic and fiscal outlook.

Taxation: Avoidance

Lord Barnett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have examined reports of activities allegedly carried out by Credit Suisse in facilitating tax avoidance in the United States, with a view to determining whether such practices were carried out in the United Kingdom; and, if so, what is their estimate of any loss to the Exchequer from such schemes.

Lord Deighton: HMRC takes all relevant developments into account when considering the threat from offshore tax evasion and the necessary action. HMRC's offshore evasion strategy calls for robust pursuit of those who seek to evade tax by hiding money offshore. This includes ensuring there is no place for facilitators of offshore tax evasion. The Government is also working internationally with others to achieve greater transparency of assets held offshore.

Ukraine

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the religious freedoms of the Greek Catholic Church on the Crimean peninsula.

Baroness Warsi: We were concerned to hear reports that some Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) priests in Crimea had been subjected to written and verbal intimidation. There are credible reports that risk of further persecution remains high and some priests have gone into hiding. However, many priests continue to serve at their churches as they wish to support their congregations though the current crisis. On 18 March the Major Archbishop of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, met with the Pope and thanked him for the support he has offered Ukraine so far during the crisis.
	The British Government is committed to confronting religious persecution wherever it occurs. We strongly support the human rights assessment work being carried out in Ukraine by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and also the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, which
	aims to collect and establish reliable information on events in Ukraine and Crimea with an impact on human or minority rights.

Ukraine

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the whereabouts and safety of Father Mykola Kvych, a Greek Catholic priest, abducted in Sevastopol on 15 March.

Baroness Warsi: Father Mykola Kvych, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) priest, was abducted by armed men on Saturday 15 March. On 17 March the UGCC reported that he had been released and was currently on the Ukrainian mainland.

Ukraine

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of religious freedoms in Ukraine outside the Crimean peninsula.

Baroness Warsi: We have been concerned to see reports of the intimidation of some minority religious groups in Ukraine. On 4 March the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, which unites 90% of religious communities in Ukraine, issued a statement which condemned provocations seeking to promote confrontation and hostility between people in different regions of Ukraine and between different ethnic and religious minorities.
	The priority for the new government in Ukraine is to stabilise the security situation. Longer-term, there is a pressing need for constitutional reform, improvements to Ukraine’s political culture, free elections, an end to pervasive corruption and the construction of a stable political structure. We look to the new government to create the conditions for such change, and to ensure accountability for human rights violations within a legal structure that meets international standards.
	The British Government is committed to confronting religious persecution wherever it occurs. We strongly support the human rights assessment work being carried out in Ukraine by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and also the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, which aims to collect and establish reliable information on events in Ukraine and Crimea with an impact on human or minority rights.

Vets: Language Controls

Lord Trees: To ask Her Majesty’s Government , in the light of the passage of the Draft Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) (Knowledge of English) Order 2014, what plans the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has for the adoption of analogous legislation modifying the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to allow the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, where there are serious and concrete doubts, to check the English language competence of European Union-qualified veterinarians prior to registering them to practice in the United Kingdom.

Lord De Mauley: Defra officials will continue to have discussions with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons about how Defra can enable the College to put in place processes to check the language ability of European Union-qualified veterinary surgeons wishing to practise in the UK. Any such testing must meet requirements of EU law, in recognition of the professional qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC.